Ben Garthofner
1905 - 1988 (83 years)-
Name Ben Garthofner Born 22 Apr 1905 Blackfoot, Glacier County, Montana, USA 
[1, 2, 3] Gender Male Died 13 Sep 1988 Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA [4] Person ID I18314 Suedpfalz Last Modified 15 Jun 2014
Father James Christopher Garthofner, b. 12 May 1873, Clayton County, Iowa, USA , d. 5 Aug 1945, Blackfoot, Glacier County, Montana, USA (Age 72 years) Mother Alice M. Playford, b. 0Dec 1879, Nebraska, USA , d. 5 Apr 1940, Blackfoot, Glacier County, Montana, USA (Age ~ 60 years) Married 14 Oct 1902 Chinook, Chouteau County, Montana, USA [5, 6, 7] Family ID F7413 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 Peggie Alida Marcotte Married 11 Jul 1936 Wolf Point, Roosevelt County, Montana, USA [8, 9] Divorced Yes, date unknown Last Modified 1 May 2018 Family ID F9169 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 2 Margaret Amelia Hopperstad, b. 9 Jul 1918, Enderlin, Ransom County, North Dakota, USA , d. 17 Feb 1999, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA (Age 80 years) Married 12 May 1941 Seattle, King County, Washington, USA Children 1. Barry Robert Garthofner, b. 28 Jan 1943, Seattle, King County, Washington, USA , d. 30 Sep 2007, Arizona, USA (Age 64 years)2. Jeanette Evelyn Garthofner 3. Ellen C. Garthofner Last Modified 1 May 2018 Family ID F9170 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Notes - BIOGRAPHY: http://hopperstad.dyndns.org/genealogy/hopperstad/fam01066.html
BIOGRAPHY: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mtfergus/homestead/wrr01.htm
COWHAND PORTRAYS THE OLD WEST
The following write-up was published in the Idaho Statesman in 1975--Ben Garthofner has been creating and selling western art since 1928. Each piece tells a true story of the old west and is 100 percent authentic.
"We often said ,'All you need on the Missouri River is a shot gun and a fish hook," says Ben Garthofner. "I saw the West from the freight wagon days to this modern age when men walk the moon." Now retired and living with his wife at 1019 Laredo Circle (Arizona), the former Montana rancher and self taught artist recalls his boyhood in the Missouri River "breaks" in Montana south of the town of Malta. "....a land without roads, except for old cow trails," he says. "My father made one trip to Malta a year for supplies. It meant taking the wagon apart and taking it to the north side (of the river) in a rowboat. The horses swam. "Our houses were cottonwood logs with dirt roofs and sometimes dirt floors. We raised lots of the finest beef and had lots of wild game and birds. "There really were no laws to worry about in those days. We used hoop nets and throw-lines to catch our catfish, sturgeon and pike. When we were visited by the sheriff or a game warden, they ate the same food as us, some being illegal and they knew it. "I never had a hunting or fishing license until I was past 40 years old. It was a free and easy country and although we worked hard, endured long, cold winters and went without luxuries....we would not have traded places with John D. Rockefeller. "I saw the last of the old time steam boats go up and down the Missouri from Mandan, ND, to Ft. Benton, Montana. There was the "Mandan" a boat to remove snags from the river, and a freight boat, the "Gros Ventre." "What we did in everyday life and what I saw on real trail drives on real roundups gave me background and knowledge to do a little art. I do believe I am one of the few now doing this sort of work who knows what things of the Old West should look like."
[Not only was Ben an artist he was a poet as well. The following was written by him in 1986.]
WHEN I TAKE MY LAST LONG RIDE
When I take my last long ride Up over that well worn trail, Let me ride a horse I've known, One that will not fail. Please don't cry or feel too bad, It's me who'll shed the tears. Because it's leaving you, who's been so dear Through all these many years. Dying isn't hard at all Excepting in one way; It's so hard to leave you dear ones, But we'll meet another day. So long, I love you all my dears, Take care, God bless you every one, I'11 meet you all in Shadowland When earthly days are done.
Ben Garthofner - 1986 (Ben passed away in the fall of 1988.)
BIOGRAPHY: THE ROCK CREEK RANCH AND THE STAN GAR FAMILY information by Ben Garthofner and Kathie Fink
When the Government bought the Al Dewar place under the Fort Peck project Ben Garthofner leased it from the Government for $600 per year. It included two river bottoms. Ben moved onto it in April of 1937. In the fall of 1938 Ben's brother, Stan, went into partnership with him. They got a disease, called bangs, in their cattle in 1940 and had to sell them all. Ben left for three years while Stan stayed on. In 1943 Ben sold out to Stan and bought a ranch on the Judith River. After Stan took over the ranch he turned it into a very productive alfalfa seed operation. With the building of the north-south highway and the Fred Robinson Bridge, the area opened up and the raising of hay became more profitable as it could be easily shipped out to a wide market. Stan originally came from the Brussett area where at one time he was a print setter for a newspaper. He married Alice Orr Kurtz in February of 1942 at Fort Benton. She was raised in Rosebud County along the Tongue River. She had a daughter, Connie Kurtz, from a previous marriage. Stan and Alice had eight children: Dale, Jerry, Kathie, Linda, Lucille, Jim, Eilein and Dave who were raised and educated through the 8th grade at the Rock Creek School on the ranch. They attended high school in Roy. In the early 1960's the name Garthofner was shortened to Gar. Stan said he was tired of people asking him how to spell it all the time, so he had it legally changed. He was instrumental in the formation of the Square Butte Grazing District in southern Phillips County. He sold the government lease about 1973 and bought a ranch at Three Forks. He retired about 1974. He and Alice moved into Roy. Stan passed away on Thanksgiving morning of 1975 and Alice just a little over two years later, on March 18, 1978. The Gar Children: Connie married Everett Campbell. Dale and Jerry both passed away suddenly from heart attacks when Dale was 30 and Jerry only 24. Both were big, husky, handsome and healthy-looking young men and their deaths were a shock. Kathie is married to Bob Fink and lives on the ranch north of Roy. She has one son, Brian. Linda (Hansen) is a teacher and resides in Missoula. Lucille lives at Dodson with her husband, Jim Newby, and their son, Mark, and her daughter, Carrie Smith. Lucille's two older sons, Gary Robert and Earl Smith, live in Roy. Jim married Vicki Grabinski of Lewistown. They have two daughters, Tara and Tami. Jim was a bull rider for several years and was fairly well known on the Montana rodeo circuit. Eilein married Dick Cox. They live near Lewistown where they own the D C Guide and Outfitters. They have two sons, Jason and Cody. Dave is married to Shannon Myers. They live in Roy and have a daughter, Stacey. He is the mine superintendent for the construction company at the mines in Zortman, a job his dad would have loved. Stan was a miner at heart. He worked at the mines in Zortman in the early 40's and also had mining claims in Idaho. He and his friend, Lloyd LaFond, would take some time off each summer, and go panning for gold, something they both loved to do.
- BIOGRAPHY: http://hopperstad.dyndns.org/genealogy/hopperstad/fam01066.html
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Sources - [S30] 1910 US Federal Census, (www.ancestry.com).
Name: Bennie Garthofner Age in 1910: 4 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1906 BirthPlace: Montana Relation to Head of House: Son Father's Name: James Father's Birth Place: Iowa Mother's Name: Abel Mother's Birth Place: Nebraska Home in 1910: Madras, Chouteau, Montana Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Male - [S24] 1920 US Federal Census, (www.ancestry.com).
Name: Ben Garthofner Home in 1920: Blackfoot, Garfield, Montana Age: 14 years Estimated birth year: abt 1906 Birthplace: Montana Relation to Head of House: Son Father's name: James Father's Birth Place: Iowa Mother's name: Alice Mother's Birth Place: Nebraska Marital Status: Single Race: White Sex: Male Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Image: 626 - [S25] 1930 US Federal Census, (www.ancestry.com).
CENSUS:
1930:
Name: Ben Gorthofner Age: 24 Estimated birth year: abt 1906 Relation to head-of-house: Son Father's Name: James C Gorthofner Mother's Name: Alice M Gorthofner Home in 1930: School District 19, Garfield, Montana Image source: Year: 1930; Census Place: School District 19, Garfield, Montana; Roll: 1256; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 18; Image: 476.0. - [S888] Social Security Death Index 1935 - Current, (www.ancestry.com).
DEATH: Social Security Death Index
Name: Ben Garthofner SSN: 516-22-5959 Last Residence: 85032 Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States of America Born: 22 Apr 1905 Died: 13 Sep 1988 State (Year) SSN issued: Montana (Before 1951 ) - [S8] Information from an informant - Auskunft eines Informanten - Information d'un informateur.
Proposed Change: James Christopher Garthofner (I14993) Tree: Südpfalz / Southern Palatinate Link: http://www.birkenhoerdt.net/getperson.php?personID=I14993&tree=Suedpfalz Description: Montana marriages: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F33L-5J4
claire rassman - [S638] Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1987, (www.ancestry.com).
name: James Garthofner
titles & terms:
event: Marriage
event date: 14 Oct 1902
event place: Chinook, Choteau, Montana
age: 29
marital status: Single
previous spouse:
race: White
birth date:
birthplace: McGregor, IA
estimated birth year: 1873
father: Anton Garthofner
father's titles & terms:
mother: Josephine Judd
mother's titles & terms:
paternal grandfather:
paternal grandmother:
maternal grandfather:
maternal grandmother:
additional relatives:
spouse: Alice Playford
spouse's titles & terms:
spouse's age: 22
spouse's marital status: Single
spouse's race: White
spouse's birth date:
spouse's birthplace: Oakdale, NE
spouse's estimated birth year: 1880
spouse's father: Edward Playford
spouse's father's titles & terms:
spouse's mother: Alvina Phelps
spouse's mother's titles & terms:
spouse's paternal grandfather:
spouse's paternal grandmother:
spouse's maternal grandfather:
spouse's maternal grandmother:
volume/page/certificate number: p 262, cn 656
film number: 1902873
digital folder number: 4351300
image number: 635 - [S8] Information from an informant - Auskunft eines Informanten - Information d'un informateur.
Proposed Change: Family: Garthofner/Playford (F7413)
Tree: Südpfalz / Southern Palatinate
Link: http://www.birkenhoerdt.net/familygroup.php?familyID=F7413&tree=Suedpfalz
Description: Married: Chinook, Chouteau County, Montana, USA
Chinook is & has been since 1912 the seat of Blaine County.
But, on 14 Oct 1902, Chinook was a part of Chouteau County.
CORRECTED spelling 'Chouteau'
Mariner's Knoll Genealogy USA
Mariner's Knoll Genealogy USA - [S650] Montana Marriages, 1889-1947.
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Name: Ben Garthofner
Titles & Terms:
Event: Marriage
Event Date: 11 Jul 1936
Event Place: Wolf Point, Roosevelt, Montana
Age: 31
Marital Status:
Previous Spouse:
Race:
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Estimated Birth Year: 1905
Father: James Garthofner
Father's Titles & Terms:
Mother: Alice Playford
Mother's Titles & Terms:
Paternal Grandfather:
Paternal Grandmother:
Maternal Grandfather:
Maternal Grandmother:
Additional Relatives:
Spouse: Peggie Alida Motley
Spouse's Titles & Terms:
Spouse's Age: 30
Spouse's Marital Status:
Spouse's Race:
Spouse's Birth Date:
Spouse's Birthplace:
Spouse's Estimated Birth Year: 1906
Spouse's Father: Eugene Marcotte
Spouse's Father's Titles & Terms:
Spouse's Mother: Mabel Pettie
Spouse's Mother's Titles & Terms:
Spouse's Paternal Grandfather:
Spouse's Paternal Grandmother:
Spouse's Maternal Grandfather:
Spouse's Maternal Grandmother:
Volume/Page/Certificate Number: No 2296
Film Number: 1903325
Digital Folder Number: 4351322
Image Number: 410 - [S8] Information from an informant - Auskunft eines Informanten - Information d'un informateur.
Proposed Change: Peggie Alida Marcotte (I101001) Tree: Südpfalz / Southern Palatinate Link: http://www.birkenhoerdt.net/getperson.php?personID=I101001&tree=Suedpfalz Description: I located the marriage record and it appears that she was married before. Also, if you look at the actual record, you will see where she was born: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F37P-7XK
claire rassman
- [S30] 1910 US Federal Census, (www.ancestry.com).